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Broome County Jail is a 'hot spot' for coronavirus. How is the facility limiting the outbreak?

More than once a week, Broome County jail inmates can exchange their protective masks, which must be worn at all times outside their cells. Body temperatures are checked daily, twice for officers.

Each day, inmates' cells get cleaned and disinfected.

These are some of the steps carried out as two dozen inmates, Broome County Sheriff's deputies and corrections staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since the novel coronavirus pandemic began. None has been hospitalized, and as of Monday, most had completed a two-week quarantine.

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said the jail is one of four local "hot spots" for the coronavirus. Sheriff David Harder, along with court documents and records obtained by the Press & Sun-Bulletin/pressconnects.com describe protocols and steps taken within the jail to control the spread of COVID-19, and how it's affected those incarcerated and working in the facility.

Sheriff disputes inmates claim that they're cleaning quarantine areas

Out of 21 inmates tested for the virus, 10 inmates in the same pod were positive. Fourteen corrections officers and sheriff's deputies tested positive.

The final inmate's quarantine was scheduled to finish Tuesday, and on Wednesday, a sheriff's deputy who tested positive returns to duty.

Five Broome County inmates who contacted the New York Post told the newspaper that inmates were forced to clean up after COVID-19 patients without proper protective equipment. The inmates also said they were required to clean the jail's medical unit housing COVID-19-positive patients, vacuum and sanitize areas holding quarantined inmates, clean food trays and dishes used by positive patients, and do their laundry.

Harder, on Monday, said the inmates' claims were false and said the jail has been taking extensive measures to maintain quarantine within the facility. Inmates began wearing masks two weeks before Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order requiring masks to be worn in public settings where social distancing hasn't been possible, according to Harder.

Inmates who tested positive have been served meals with disposable paper plates and Styrofoam containers that were thrown away after each use, Harder said. All inmates are eating meals in their cells.

Masks worn by inmates can be exchanged every three days, the sheriff said, and the used masks are destroyed. When inmates are released from quarantine, their cells are steam cleaned.

New inmates are held in a separate pod two weeks before being transferred to general population.

None of the Broome County inmates or officers who tested positive for COVID-19 has required hospitalization or showed serious enough symptoms to require medical care outside the jail, according to documents filed last week in Binghamton's federal courthouse.

Each inmate tested for COVID-19 has been medically isolated on or before the date of testing. All jail staff who tested positive had completed their quarantine periods and returned to work.

Jail employees have been provided with personal protective equipment and are also required to wear masks within the jail. Daily COVID-19 testing is also offered for any symptomatic jail staff member who requests it, according to records.

The jail has suspended all non-essential meetings, and the staff facility dining area was expanded to provide more space for social distancing regulations. Harder said chairs that were previously bolted to the floors in the jail have been disconnected and spaced out.

Increased cleaning has been instituted throughout the jail, according to the sheriff, who said inmates have been responsible for cleaning and disinfecting their own cells.